Automotive vehicle frame



Feb, 2, 1932'. A. w. HENRY AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE FRAME original Filed Aug.s. 1927 Patented Feb.l 2, 1932 `UNITED vsiia'riais PATE:,rrifoi-ificlrvALFRED w. HENRY,l 0E sr. LoUIs, MIssoUIiI z AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE FRAMEApplication led August 6, 1927, Serial No. 211,032. Renewed June29,1931.

Thisinvention relates to improvements in automotive vehicle frames, andmore particu-` larlyto anA automotivevehicle frame comprising aI onepiecefcasting,and associated therewith an improved body mountingmeans,

and haa-among others, the following objects :v

i To provide aunitary structure embodying all the essential elements ofa frame; :to provide a structure wherein the elements thereof areintegrally connected; to provide a frame with the chemical and physicalstructure of the material uniform throughout; to providek a unitaryconstructionof a frame'and engine i Y, cylinder block; to provide aunitary construc-` tion of a frame anda liquid container, suchV as afuel tank; to provide an improved frame structure embodying means forlresiliently mounting an automotive `body thereon.;l to

provide an improved vautomotive vehicle structureincorporating a bodyresiliently" supported by"'a',fraine; to provide an im- Y proved form ofconstruction of an automotive frame wherein the elements associated ,vtherewith act also to stien and strengthen the frame; to provide atractor truck yframe having means -vfor connecting a trailer truckthereto incorporated integrally therewith in a new and novel manner; toprovide a frame construction having.` a minimum number` of elements orparts by forming saidv elements integrally with the frame whereby saidele' ments stifen and strengthen tliepframe;y to provide a frame simple.to manufacture and inexpensive in upkeep; yand also to vprovide otherimprovementsand advantages as will` appear hereinafter. v

' With the above and other objects :in View,

my inventionconsistsin the combinationand arrangement of partshereinafter Y described and claimed and more particularly illustrated inmy preferred embodiment as shown inthe accompanying drawings, ywhereinis shown the preferred 4embodiment of the invention.

.c However, it-isto beunderstoodthatthe ini' vention compreliendschanges, variations and modificationsy which` come within the scopeofthe claims hereunto'appended. Y

Figure 1 is aplan` view of an'automotive l vehicle frame embodying myinvention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure l;

Figure Bis a sectional view along the line 3-7-3 ofFigurel; ',g v Figure4 isla sectional viewv alongthe line 4 4 of-Figure 1;' l V .Figure 5 isa sectional-viewalong the line* 57-5 of Figure 1 ;v

Figure v6 is a sectional view along the linen j '6 6 of.' Figure 1yappended and attached parts adapted to `usefully function in the useand employmentof the automotive unit, the said members and 'parts andvmechanisms associated therewith being formed more or lessseparately ofone` another and bolted, riveted or welded `together to form thecompleted automotive vehicle frame unit or structure f In the use ofsuch a "structure, the rack-ing and weaving inherent in the use andemploy* ment of the automotive vehicle unit will naturally haveatendency to destroy the fastening means or bonds whereby the parts arecaused t0 coact with one another, whereby the frame becomes unfit toperform its proper function ofvalining and supporting the mechanismsassociated therewith.,

Myvinvention consists in incorporating the side l members,` transversestifl'ening mem-v bers, ymechanism supporting members and associatedparts, and also the various appended and attached members employedl inand physical structure vof the material being uniform throughout.

I also havev found that, by employing a onepiece casting, I am abletoincorporate new and-usefull constructions in the'same, such as castingthe cylinderblock and the upperhalf ofjthe crank case integrally? withthe frame;V i n and further, I cast the usual f. fuel container sintegrally with the frame Aand alsoutilize the 1"06 resulting structureto form a platform means or supporting means for connecting a trailertruck or like device to the automotive unit having my improved frameconstruction incorporated therein.

l have also found that the said racking and weaving of the usual frame,aside from the deleterious effect upon the mechanism mounted on theframe, also seriously alfects the body .of the automotive unit, so thatfrequently the body is rendered unlit for use long before other parts ofthe automotive unit are worn out. I have therefore provided, inconnection with my improved frame construction, a new and novel means ofresiliently mounting the said body upon the frame, so as to practicallyprevent the racking and weaving of the frame from being communicated tothe body, whereby I greatly prolong the useful life of the body. y

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that Iprovide an automotive vehicle frame structure embodying a one piececasting forming a horizontal girder of channel shaped cross section, asclearly shown in Figure 6. I provide the vsaid girder with an upperhorizontal sub-l stantially continuous web 10, and depending flanges 11along the side edges of web, said flanges being provided along theirlower edges with laterally extending inturned members 11, as shown inFig. 6.

The web of the girder isapproximately coeXtensive with and serves totransversely stillen the frame, and apertures or Openings 12 areprovided as required in the web for the reception of the automotivemechanism usually employed. In addition, transverse stillening elements13 may be extended across the aperture 12 and connecting the flanges 11,and the said stiffening elements 13 may also serve as automotivemechanism supporting elements.

The flanges 11 of the girder form the usual side members of anautomotive vehicle frame,

l and in this case also form longitudinal spring receiving elements asby spring hangers 14 extended fromthe lateral members 11a;

In that portion of the frame wherein is usually positioned the engine orother motivating means of the automotive unit, and in connection withtheaperture 12, Iprovide a dust pan or engine protecting means 15,-as shownin Figure 3.' This dust pan extends laterally from the inturned members11a, and is provided with an aperture 16, whereby the engine or othermechanism may be mounted upon the supporting brackets or like means lassociated with said aperture 16, Figure 1 f In my' preferredembodiment, however, I form the crankcase side walls l18 by extendingthe members `11-a upwardly through the aperture 16 and theenginecylinder block 19 integrally united the said walls 18, as shown Y, inFigure 1 and Figure 7, the lower half vofv the crankcase (not shown)being removably attached to the dust pan or laterally extended portions11a 15 of side members.

As shown in Figure 7 in my preferred embodiment I form the cylinderwalls 20 integrally with the water jacket walls 21, but of course, thecylinder walls may be omitted from the casting and inserted as liners inthe cylinder block, at the option of the person constructing the device.

In the usual construction a cowl is mounted on the body which in turn ismounted on the frame, but in my invention I form a cowl element 22integrally with the frame, (Figure 1), and in this manner I obtain theuse of a cowl structure in the customary manner, and also provide astiifening member for the frame of great practical utility. As will beseen in Figure et, this cowl element 22 may ber resist any tendency ofthe .frame to rack or weave.

n a like manner, and fora like purpose, I forni a radiator guard 23combined with the apron or mud guard 24, the radiator guard includingupstanding vertical members connected at their upper ends and the wholebeing integrally connected to the dust pan 15 and the side members 11,the said mud'guard being also formed in an arcuate shape, and dependingfrom integrally formed gusset elements 25, whereby I not only stiffenthe frame against vertical movement but also effectually preventhorizontal movement of one side of the frame relatively to the other,this construction being particularly desirable in view of the enginereceiving element 12 aforesaid, which has a tendency t0 weaken thestructure in the vicinity of said element bers 110i: the frame, whichserves the double purpose of strengthening the 'frame at this point andof forming an effectual means to receive and withstand any shocks andblows encountered by reason of collisions or the like. Of course a likebuffer element may be provided at the rear end of the frame, at theoption of the person constructing the same.

It is customary to provide fuel containing means inconnection withautomotive structures, which areattached to but not incorporatedwith'the frame; by the construction shown in Figure 5, I provide such afuel or other liquid container means in a very simple and ee'ctivemanner. 'lhe rearward portion of the web is offset vertically as at 28aand the corresponding opposite lateral members 11a are connected beneathsaid offset web E filling spout 30 in the top of the container. Y

portion as at 29 to form an enclosure :2S-thereibetvveen. The enclosureis completed by. a

suitable partitioii29? at its front,and at its rear by inclining theupper Wall28a-to connect with the ylower-wall 28.,v lIl also cast a Inthe embodiment shown, ,I-utilize the liquid container structure abovedescribed in a new and novel manner, as by casting a center plate 81,onthe top Wall 28, said top Wall having a tracking surface 32, saidtracking surface being concentric with the forward half ofthe centerplate and extending rearwardly therefrom.v Y

As Will vbe, readily seen from 33 With one of the side members of theframe the said support being spaced from' the cowl element 22,- andby-thismeans I. piovide a gaging elements 35, ruiming beard supportingbrackets 35, a torque tube receiving element 37, radius rodpreceivingelementsvk 38, and dump body pivot brackets 39, cast integrally with theframe. Y

In my preferred embodiment I do not mount the body l0 rigidly on theframe, but

- support the body resiliently on the frame, as

by providing buffer pockets or elements 41, in the side members of theframe, said pockets opening upwardly through the Web 10 and beinglocated at the junction of the web and the side members,and mountingresilient elements or buffers 42', therein, and I mount or attach thebody upon the said buffers 42, in such manner as to cause'the same to bespaced from the frame and thereforeA iiicapable of directly receivingany shocks or blows therefrom, all such shocks or blovvs beingpractically absorbed by the resilient buffers i-2. i

In this manner I prevent the racking and weaving of the frame from beingcommunicated to the body. Y Y

I construct my improved automotive vehicle frame with the chemical andphysical structure of the material uniform throughout, and preferablyemploy a chemical coinposition of the material follows: carbon, 0.15% to0.25%; manganese 0.70% to` 0.80% silicon, 0.05% 'to' 0.10% nickle 0.05%to 0.15%; chromium 0.05% to 0.15%; sulphur 0.05% or less; phosphorous0,05% or less and iron to make 100%. In employing a. material of theaforesaid composition I fuse the same to a suitable fluid condition,

the drawings, I incorporate a steering mechanism support which ,I-obtainat al temperature of4,000 degrees Fahrenheit and cast the same in asuitable form; when the material has solidied and cooled I anneal thesame at a temperature of 1,500 degrees Fahr., thereby obtaini ing amaterial having a tensile strength of 70,000 pounds to the square inch.,y Y

It Will be seen that I obtain a homogeneous struct-ure having a hightensile strength which is also Weldable and highly ductile,

and by'reason of the aforesaid combination of qualities of the materialin the frame structure resulting Vfrom the process described, I amableto employ a form of construction in my improved frame Which Will belight in Weight, strong and durable in use,

and having the strength of the various pori tions thereof exactlyproportioned to the stresses and strains set up therein when in use.

,It will be readily seen, from( the 'foregoing description of myinvention, that I obtain,V

the objects and advantages vset forth hereinbefore; that aframeas'described Will have a useful life of 'long duration, and thatanautomotive unit embodying: my invention! Will havepractical utility farexceeding the lforms of; construction heretofore employed.f

1. An vautomotive vehicle frame formed from a'single piece of metalincludinga horizontal web member4 substantially continuous with theframeand `coextensive With thel Width of the frame, longitudinally extending.spring receiving flange members depending from each side of said Webmember, andinturned lateral members extending continuously alongandconnected to the lower edges f of said flange members, a portion ofsaid Web member being apertured, vand the corresponding-,oppositeportions of said lateral members being extended `upwardly throughidkaperture and united to form an engine oc 2. In an automotive vehicleframe an Vin. 11.0

tegral structure includ-ing av side member extending approximately fromend to end of said frame, a steering mechanism bracket.;

vformed integralA With and extending *fromr r p the inner face of said`side member andv a lltA vsteering mechanism supportintegrally connectedto and upstanding from said side member, said bracket and "supporthaving alinedl apertures yfor receiving a steering column. U 1 l In anautomotive vehicle frame anrinegral structure including spaced forwardlyextending spring 4.receiving members, a horizontal Web vmember'connecting said spring receiving members, said web member having` 12,3

anarcuate'concave edge, a flange depending lfrom'said'arcuate edge,saidA flange also connecting said spring'receivingmembers, and atransverse bumper member connecting the opposite ends of said arcuateedge.-

4l. An automotive vehicle frame comprising a one piece casting forming ahorizontal channel shaped girder, the flanges of the girder projectinghorizontally beyond the receiving elements depending from said projectedends, and a flange depending from the gusset members and connecting saidspring receiving elements.

5. An automotive vehicle frame formed of a single piece of metalincluding a hori- Zontal web plate extending approximately over the rearhalf of said frame, longitudi nally extending spring receiving membersdepending from each side of said web member, said flange members beingprovided along their lower edges with laterally extending members, theforward portions of said lateral members being extended upwardly andinwardly and united to form an engine block, a steering mechanismbracket formed on one of said lateral members, a steering mechanismsupport upsta-ndingfrom said web member, said bracket and said supporthavq ing alined apertures for receiving a steering lcolumn, a springengaging member depending from each of said lateral members, bufferpockets opening upwardly through said web member, said pockets beingrespectively disposed above one of said spring engaging members and'formed in said longitudinal members at the junction thereof with saidweb member, the portion oi. said web member rearwardly of said bufferpockets being offset upwardly, the corresponding opposite portions ofsaid lateral members being united beneath said offset portion to form anenclosure therebetween, a center bearing' formed on the upper side ofsaid offset web said offset web portion having a the for ward half ofsaid center bearing and extending rearwardly therefrom, upstanding wallsbounding said tracking surface, and a u body support includingrresilient members engaging said buffer pockets.

6. An automotive vehicle frame 'formed from a single piece of cast metalincluding an approximately horizontal web member extending substantiallyfrom end to end of the frame, a portion of said web member beingcoextensive with the width of the frame, longitudinally exten dingflange members depending from each side of said, web member, andinturned lateral flange members extending along and integrally connectedto the lower edges of said depending flange members, said inturnedlateral flange members being provided with spring` receiving elementsnear the ends of said frame, and

said inturned flange members being continnous 'from one of said springreceiving elements to another, so as to serve as tension members linSupporting the load between said spring receiving elements.

7. An automotive vehicle frame formed from a single piece of cast metalincluding an approximately horizontal web member extending substantiallyfrom end to end 0f the vehicle frame, a portion of said web member beingcoextensive with the width of the frame, longitudinally extending flangemembers depending from each side of said web member, and inturnedlateral flange members extending along and integrally connected to thelower edges of said depending flange members, portions of said lateralflange members being extended near the ends of the frame to form springreceiving elements, and said lateral flange members being continuousfrom one of sa'id spring receiving elements to another, so as to serveas tension members in supporting the load between said spring receivingelements.

ALFRED W. HENRY.

'Irsl ico

